Chapter 10: The Celestial Hound's Execution

Long stood on the stage, bewildered as she faced the disfigured swordsman who eyed her with predatory intent.
How had she suddenly become his target?
Opposite her, Yagyu Zokuto stared coldly, “Though you are a swordswoman of the Oboro school, being a woman, you should step down quickly. Let him come up!”
With a shake of his right hand, the scabbard of his great katana shot out, flying straight toward Zhou Yan like an arrow.
Zhou Yan didn’t even look up. He raised his water cup with his right hand and drank, while his left hand flicked lightly, almost carelessly.
Crack!
With a sharp sound, the wooden scabbard exploded into fragments under Zhou Yan’s finger and scattered onto the stage as broken pieces.
Zhou Yan set down his cup and spoke calmly, “I’ve heard the Yagyu family’s swordsmanship is impressive, but this scabbard is a bit shoddy. Next time, I’d suggest getting something sturdier.”
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.
The scene was shocking to everyone present; those who had been watching for entertainment now shrank back, imagining Zhou Yan flicking his finger at them, cold chills running down their spines.
No one believed that the scabbard of the strongest sword master of the Yagyu clan would be inferior.
Yet, here it was, shattered by a single human finger.
Was he even human? More like a demon in human guise!
It was no wonder the crowd thought this way.
Zhou Yan’s fourth-tier Fate Equipment gave him a physique boost of “43” points. His left arm was actually the powerful artifact “Demonic God’s Arm,” in physical form equal to standard fourth-tier strength, at least “40” points.
The result: his left arm now possessed a combined strength of “83,” barely less than his fused form.
To shatter a wooden scabbard with a flick of his finger was merely a trivial feat.
Even Seimei, among others, realized they were witnessing a creature far more terrifying than any demon.
Especially Yagyu Zokuto on stage—his previously fierce aura now wilted.
‘Such monstrous strength and keen sight, and I didn’t even sense any demonic energy from him,’
Sweat seeped unnoticed down Yagyu Zokuto’s back. ‘Even the Oboro master who scarred my face years ago could never have done this!’
Yet events proceeded in a direction Yagyu least wished for.
Zhou Yan had no intention of letting the challenger off easily. He rolled his neck and stood up, beckoning to Long, “Long, step down. Let me play with this fellow.”
“Alright!” The girl, utterly confident in Zhou Yan, immediately stopped caring about Yagyu Zokuto and cheerfully leapt off the stage.
She ran to Zhou Yan’s side, and after he patted her head, she happily returned to her seat.
Under the gaze of the whole audience, Zhou Yan calmly walked onto the stage opposite Yagyu Zokuto.
The two stared at each other in silence; Yagyu’s expression was grave.
“Daring to claim Long can’t defeat you, you must have something up your sleeve. Bring it out now,” Zhou Yan’s eyes were amused, “Otherwise, if I make a move, you’ll have no chance.”
Yagyu Zokuto glared at the carefree Zhou Yan, teeth clenched, replying coldly, “You said it yourself!”
He reached inside his black feathered robe and drew out an object resembling a mask.
Below the stage, Seimei stood abruptly, “Yagyu! Do not use that!”
“Silence!”
Yagyu Zokuto ignored Seimei’s warning and fastened the mask onto his face.
The crowd watched as the mask—a crimson, long-nosed, menacing visage—appeared.
The atmosphere changed abruptly. Once donned, Yagyu Zokuto was enveloped in thick black mist.
He howled, venting agony through a hoarse and desperate voice, “The humiliation bestowed upon me by the Oboro school—I am willing to pay any price to avenge that wound!”
“Ahhhh—”

Amidst a series of anguished cries, Yagyu Zokuto, together with the Tengu mask, rose, shrouded in black mist, to nearly two meters above the stage.
The dissipating black energy rapidly condensed, transforming into a tall, slender humanoid figure, even larger than Yagyu had been.
The great katana, oversized for Yagyu, was merely an ordinary sword for this towering figure.
When the black fog cleared, before the crowd stood a “non-human” over two and a half meters tall, clad in samurai armor, standing on tall wooden clogs, and wearing the crimson, long-nosed mask.
Violent demonic energy radiated from the figure, draining the color from the faces of everyone present.
Seimei instantly summoned a barrier, tightly protecting himself and the shogun behind him.
The tall swordsman at the shogun’s side rose, silently gripping the hilt of his sword; his hand was covered in brown fur, and his fingers were canine-like, four in number.
“Tengu…” The beautiful shrine maiden of the Mirror family gasped in realization.
“Borrowing the power of a great demon—the Yagyu clan, as expected, allied with Tengu…” The monk from Myoo Temple, Immove Peak, crossed his arms and stared at the towering monster, brows furrowed.
The shrine maiden of Narukami Grand Shrine quietly drew her divine staff; the tip crackled with lightning.
All eyes, filled with fear or caution, were riveted on the transformed Yagyu Zokuto, now the Tengu.
Only Zhou Yan stood unruffled, his hair dancing in the gale stirred by demonic power.
The Tengu, fully transformed, erupted into rolling laughter, sounding like a bold old man.
He swept his gaze around, seeing the many exorcists watching him warily, and curled his finger beneath his mask’s chin, “Little brat of the Yagyu clan, you mean to use these people’s strength to destroy me in one fell swoop?”
“Not so…” From within the “body” came Yagyu Zokuto’s voice, filled with hatred, “Tengu, I ask you to slay the Oboro swordsman before me. Let his blood wash away my disgrace!”
“Hahaha—” The Tengu laughed heartily, “So this is your wish for this generation of Yagyu? Be warned: fulfilling it will cost your clan another share of its fortune.”
“I am… sure!” Yagyu Zokuto’s voice rang out again.
“Ha! The vow is made!” The Tengu seemed delighted, slowly raising the great katana—now merely the size of a regular sword to him.
The blade’s tip pointed at Zhou Yan.
“Boy, for over two centuries, though the Oboro school produced mighty swordsmen, I’ve slain several. To die by my blade—consider yourself lucky.”
Zhou Yan tilted his head, unperturbed, gazing at the great demon with curiosity, “Tengu, compared to the Oni child, who is stronger?”
The powerful Tengu, confident in his dominance, stroked his mask’s chin upon hearing the question, “Hahaha, that’s a good question…”
“That rascal Ibaraki is fierce, but to spar with me, he’s just a bit lacking. If the true ‘supreme’ of the Oni clan arrived, I’d have to flee for my life.”
Zhou Yan nodded with a smile, “I see. You’re stronger than Ibaraki, but the true demon god, Shuten, is far more powerful than you, correct?”
“You brat, your words are hard to stomach…” The Tengu shrugged helplessly, then gripped his katana with both hands and assumed a fighting stance, “Where’s your blade?”
“Heh.”
A low chuckle escaped Zhou Yan. “Thanks for clarifying. My weapon—you’ll see it soon enough.”
As he spoke, he willed his thoughts.
‘Ultra Fusion!’
Time halted. Light burst forth.
A curved, otherworldly sword with a lotus-shaped guard materialized, merging with Zhou Yan’s form in a swirl of radiant energy.
[Fusion complete]
[Fused Fate Equipment Form—Lotus Calamity Wraith]
Zhou Yan, formerly clad in black Fate Equipment, vanished, replaced by a humanoid figure radiating ominous power.
A jet-black robe billowed, pale hair whipped wildly.
On the black mask, a half-open black lotus bloomed at the right eye.
In his hand, the long, curved blade flickered with baleful blue flames.
The sudden transformation left everyone stunned—including Long, who had seen him shift forms before.

Yet the girl quickly accepted the sight of Zhou Yan in his Lotus Calamity Wraith form.
A flash of insight lit her eyes.
Lord Yan is a true ‘god’—the guise of divinity is endless. Any form he takes before them is perfectly justified!
As Long watched Zhou Yan with adoring eyes,
On stage, Zhou Yan raised his sword before his eyes; a mysterious sigil blazed with intense blue light on the back of his hand.
His left hand formed the sword-fingers and gently pressed along the blade, slowly sweeping from the lotus guard to the tip.
Where his sword-fingers passed, the Lotus Calamity blade, fueled by Long’s demonic energy, ignited with deep blue flames.
Instantly, the sword vibrated fiercely, emitting a shrill humming.
Indeed, in terms of rank, what ordinary famed blade could compare to the Lotus Calamity, deemed a “Calamity Artifact” by the golden finger?
Infusing the sword with demonic energy would grant him unimaginable power!
Beneath the mask, Zhou Yan felt his body strengthened by the sword’s feedback, his lips curling into a wild smile.
Now, he was absurdly strong!
“Well then…” Zhou Yan pointed the sword, engulfed in blue flames, at the Tengu, his posture wild and dominant as his opponent’s eyes flickered with apprehension.
“Let your blood be the tribute for my first use of the Oboro school’s power.”
With a manic laugh, the lotus at the right eye of his mask bloomed blood-red.
“Wait…” The Tengu, sensing Zhou Yan’s terrifying aura, realized from long experience that he’d provoked an absolute monster.
“I surrender—”
Before the words finished, a ripping sound echoed as Zhou Yan appeared behind the Tengu’s massive form, blade swung in a finishing motion.
In the next instant, the Tengu shuddered violently; from right hip to left shoulder, a grotesque wound split open, blue flames erupting in torrents.
“Hatred!” The Tengu shrieked, its body instantly dissolving into black mist, separating from Yagyu Zokuto’s flesh and shooting skyward, desperate to escape.
Zhou Yan crouched slightly, then sprang upwards.
Whoosh!
His left arm transformed into a blue-white spiritual limb.
He reached out and seized the Tengu’s ghostly throat.
Centered on Zhou Yan’s spectral hand, a giant phantom black lotus blossomed, its core glowing with destructive crimson light.
“Spare me—I am willing to—” The Tengu’s spirit wailed for mercy.
“Die!” Zhou Yan laughed mercilessly.
Boom!
Endless black flames exploded in midair like fireworks, annihilating the dying Tengu.
[“Great Tengu” slain; gained 1031 Spirit]
***
Let me recommend a friend’s book: an LOL novel, “League: This Player Makes Everyone Red-Hot.”